A big THANK YOU to Steven Mansell for bringing this week’s important message to our graduating seniors, and to the rest of us as well!
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
Mark 1:16-20 ESV
Do you remember when you first heard his call? When and where was it? What was your initial response?
How has your understanding of His call changed or grown since it first happened?
“What are you seeking?”
Jesus, to John’s disciples
What do you think the typical American church expectations are of being a follower of Christ?
Does Steven’s recliner illustration hit home? Are our expectations like this? How? What are my expectations for:
– My 3 in 2023
– My workplace
– My neighbors
– My responsibility to my church
What is something you’ve had to adapt to… Learning a new muscle memory, or a new pattern of thinking? (remember how we had to switch fingers?) Why is this difficult for us, and what are the rewards?
Remember Jonah
Jonah did not want to go where God was sending him… He wanted to be comfortable. So, he went in “the opposite direction” from where God called him. (Jonah 1:3) You know what happened next.
Isn’t the recliner is the same as disobedience in the opposite direction?
Jonah didn’t want to obey because of what it might cost him… But how much more did his disobedience cost?
When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes.
Jonah 3:6 NLT
But look what God did! He used Jonah to bring the evil king of Nineveh to repentance. He called the entire city to repent, as well!
What could God do through you if you followed him? What if you obeyed him in your:
– My 3 in 2023
– My workplace
– My neighbors
– My responsibility to my church
What are you seeking? What are your expectations?
When I go camping, I expect to be outdoors in the woods a lot, so I take camping gear.
When I go to the beach, I take a swimsuit and towel.
When I go on a motorcycle ride, I take riding gear.
I take what I expect to need.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
Jesus, Matthew 16:24 NLT
Jesus doesn’t say “bring your recliner cushion and your pillow…” What does Jesus expect we will be carrying? What kind of life does Jesus expect we will be living?
What are my expectations? What am I seeking?
This Coming Sunday
I know it is a holiday weekend, but this coming Sunday, I’m bringing a message that is heavy on my heart… I think this message about Jesus and demons is a culturally sensitive message. It is absolutely as relevant today as ever, as we have demon activity raging all around us. I hope you will plan to join me live and in person this coming Sunday morning as part of your holiday weekend activities.